Ministry of Defence

Veterans: Radiation Exposure

Lord Watson of Wyre Forest: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byThe Earl of Minto on 19 March (HL3052), whenthe 150 documents related to the nuclear test veterans were declassified; and who authorised their declassification.

Lord Watson of Wyre Forest: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byThe Earl of Minto on 19 March (HL3052),how many total pages are contained within the 150 declassified documents related to the nuclear test veterans.

Lord Watson of Wyre Forest: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byThe Earl of Minto on 19 March (HL3052), whether they will placea copy of the declassified documents concerning the nuclear test veterans in the Library of the House.

The Earl of Minto: The Minister for Defence People and Families personally examined all 150 records at the Atomic Weapons Establishment on 18 March 2024 and will update the House on plans for their release in due course. The documents consist of around 4,000 pages and were declassified following a review by officials at AWE and the Ministry of Defence which was completed in March this year.

Defence Equipment: Procurement

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure transparency and cost-effectiveness in the procurement of defence equipment, given the increasing complexity and expense of modern military hardware.

The Earl of Minto: The Ministry of Defence is implementing a new Integrated Procurement Model to drive pace in delivery of military capability to UK forces on the front line, so that we stay ahead of our adversaries in a fast changing strategic environment.A key feature will be a Defence-wide portfolio to prioritise requirements at the departmental level to ensure we achieve greater effect from the available budget. Spiral development, the delivery of a minimum deployable capability quickly which is then iterated in the light of experience and advances in technology throughout its in-service life, will be supported by new commercial pathways to increase speed and value for money. As part of a new alliance with industry we will be more transparent about Defence's future acquisition pipeline to help shape markets, focus R&D efforts and build resilience into our industrial base. In addition, the Procurement Act 2023 will deliver a step change in transparency and openness, with notices mandated for direct awards and publication requirements extended from planning to termination, including contract performance. A single central platform for contract data will give everyone access to certain procurement information, although there will be occasions when information will be withheld from publication on national security grounds.  Finally, we have reformed the Single Source Contract Regulations which provide regulatory assurance on value for money where we procure in the absence of competition. These reforms, which come into effect on 1 April, introduce simplifications and flexibilities to ensure the Regulations continue to adapt to changes in what we buy and how we buy it.

Army: Recruitment

Lord Reid of Cardowan: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the New Bletchley Network, Rebuild The Army Now – to Prepare, Prevent, Deter War, published on 27 February.

The Earl of Minto: The Army is alive to many of the themes discussed in this report and, for those that have not already been addressed, is actively and constructively challenging itself in these areas.

Veterans: Health Services

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to streamline the transition of medical care from military services to the NHS for service leavers.

The Earl of Minto: Where personnel leaving the Armed Forces have an enduring need for medical care, the Defence Medical Services (DMS) works in partnership with the NHS in each of the four nations. Wherever they live in the UK, all veterans are able to receive veteran specific health care support if they need it. Personnel who have been assessed and diagnosed with a mental health need are able to access Ministry of Defence (MOD) Departments of Community Mental Health for up to six months after discharge to provide continuity of care during the transition period until appropriate handover to other services can be completed as required. DMS facilitates the transfer of healthcare information for all service personnel when they leave the Armed Forces. Programme CORTISONE will provide the ability to transfer a service person’s healthcare record in electronic form to a GP practice at the end of their service. The Defence Recovery Capability is a MOD-owned capability designed to deliver programmed, command-led and coordinated support to wounded, injured and sick serving personnel. Each person who comes under the Defence Recovery Capability will get a tailored Individual Recovery Plan which enables them to focus on either their return to duty or transition to civilian life. The Veterans Welfare Service and Defence Transition Service deliver additional support to service leavers and their families who are most likely to face challenges as they leave the Armed Forces, including facilitating access to NHS services.

Veterans: Rehabilitation

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what support is available for military veterans transitioning back into civilian life.

The Earl of Minto: The Veterans Welfare Service (VWS) supports serving personnel, veterans, the military bereaved, and their families, who have an enduring welfare need or need help to access DWP benefits or injury, bereavement and compensation schemes. Defence Transition Services (DTS) helps Service leavers and their families, who face challenges as they leave the military and adjust to civilian life.The support from these two services is available from two years before discharge, through into civilian life and regardless of time served or reason for discharge. Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans (IPC4V) supports Armed Forces personnel who are leaving the services and are suffering from complex and enduring physical, neurological and mental health issues resulting from an injury that is attributable to Service.

Defence: Expenditure

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK's defence spending aligns with the current strategic threat landscape, particularly in the light of emerging hybrid and cyber warfare tactics.

The Earl of Minto: The Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCPR23) recognises the range and complexity of threats globally, including cyberspace, means we must foster a truly integrated approach to deterrence and defence by enhancing integration across all services and domains, across Government, as well as across regions, and the spectrum of conflict. To support this, the Department has set out our longer-term aspiration to invest 2.5% of GDP on defence as soon as the fiscal and economic circumstances allow. The Chancellor reaffirmed this commitment at the Spring Budget 2024 and the Prime Minister has indicated that the path towards 2.5% will be set out at the next Spending Review.

Defence: Technology

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to address the challenges of integrating advanced technologies into the UK's defence capabilities, to maintain a cutting-edge military in 2024 and beyond.

The Earl of Minto: The Ministry of Defence has set out plans to integrate advanced technologies into the UK's defence capabilities, details of which can be found in the Defence Command Paper Refresh (DCPR), published on 18 July 2023.

Armed Forces

Lord Wigley: To ask His Majesty's Government how many operational personnel of the British Army are currently based in (1) England, (2) Wales, (3) Scotland, (4) Northern Ireland, and (5) overseas.

The Earl of Minto: I refer the Noble Lord to the below table which shows the number of Trade Trained Regular Army Personnel by Stationed Location, as of 1 January 2024. LocationPersonnelEngland59,920Wales1,350Scotland3,520Northern Ireland1,370Overseas3,010  Notes/Caveats:The figures are for the Trade Trained Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, Army Reserve and all other Reserves, but includes those personnel that have transferred from GURTAM to UKTAP.Figures include all Trade Trained Regular Army personnel, regardless of whether they are currently deployed on operation. This also includes personnel regardless of their Medical Deployability Status.Figures include both Officers and Soldiers.The figures are based on service personnel’s stationed location and not their area of residence – where personnel work isn’t necessarily where they live. Personnel deployed on operations to an area away from their stationed location are shown against their most recent stationed location.There are approximately 20 personnel with an unallocated location as recorded on the Joint Personnel Administration System (JPA).Figures have been rounded to 10 for presentational purposes; numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be a sum of their parts.

RFA Fort Victoria

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government whether there has been any change to the2028 Out of Service Date (OSD) of RFA Fort Victoria.

The Earl of Minto: The Royal Navy constantly explore options to ensure optimal availability of the fleet. However, in order to preserve the Operational Security of the Fleet, individual out of service dates are no longer released.

F-35 Aircraft

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks byThe Earl of Minto on 11 March (HL Deb col 1805), how will the 138F35B Lightning aircraft be allocated to squadrons.

The Earl of Minto: The Lightning Force is configured to be flexible and interchangeable as individual aircraft cycle between the Forward Fleet and periods of maintenance. Squadrons will gain aircraft from the available Forward Fleet in line with their readiness cycle, expeditionary deployment requirements, and associated training and exercises. The size of Air Groups for every Carrier deployment are tailored based on the overall balance of Defence requirements at that time.Specific airframes are not allocated to specific Squadrons on a permanent basis. As is normal across all aircraft fleets, as part of the readiness cycle and routine fleet management across the Front-Line Squadrons and Operational Conversion Unit, the exact number of airframes operated by individual units varies day-to-day. A Squadron held at Very High Readiness will require a full complement of airframes, while a Squadron on lower readiness or undertaking post Operational deployment leave will require fewer airframes for day-to-day pilot currency and competency requirements.Our plan remains to procure 138 aircraft through the life of the programme. This procurement is phased; our first acquisition phase of 48 aircraft is underway at present, with the second phase consisting of a further 27 aircraft now progressing through the approvals process, which will form the basis of our third Front-line Lightning Squadron with deliveries expected to continue into 2033. The Ministry of Defence will seek approval for further acquisition phases at the appropriate time.

Armed Forces: Families

Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone: To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the varied needs of the families of those serving in the armed forces; what steps they have taken to increase support available to those families; and to what extent they have addressed the recommendations outlined in the report commissioned by the Ministry of Defence, Living in our shoes: understanding the needs of UK Armed Forces Familiespublished in June 2020.

The Earl of Minto: Defence recognises the important role that families play in supporting our Armed Forces, which is why in 2022 we published our UK Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022 – 2032. There is much crossover between the Living in Our Shoes report and the Families Strategy Action Plan, with two authors of the report holding Defence to account via our Families Strategy Steering Group and progress being reported biannually to Ministers and being placed on record in the annual Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans Report. The needs of families are constantly evolving, which is why Defence undertakes an annual Tri-Service Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FAMCAS). FAMCAS captures the key issues impacting our families which we then work to relieve. This may be achieved through direct intervention, for example via the Defence-funded Wraparound Childcare scheme, or by collaborating closely with other stakeholders or Government Departments, such as with the Office for Students to ensure that Service children are recognised within its Equality of Opportunity Risk Register.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Gaza: Israel

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reported allegations by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East of widespread abuse of Gazans detained by Israel during the war with Hamas.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have expressed our grave concern about the shocking reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli military detention. The UK Government is clear that administrative detention should only be used when it is justified in accordance with international law. Those under detention should either be charged or released. We ask Israel to secure improvements in its detention practices.

Iran: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government how many Iranian leaders they have sanctioned using Magnitsky-style sanctions since the death of Masha Amini in 2022; and how many sanctions they have imposed on those responsible for the suppression of the rights of women and girls in Iran.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Mahsa Amini's death is a shocking reminder of the repression faced by women in Iran. Since October 2022, we have sanctioned 94 individuals or entities for human rights abuses under the Iran sanctions regime. This includes senior decision makers responsible for enforcing Iran's mandatory hijab law, the Minister for Culture and Islamic Guidance, the Mayor of Tehran and the Iranian Police spokesperson. Individuals in the Iranian judiciary and Tehran metro were also sanctioned for their involvement in imposing and enforcing the mandatory hijab law. We will continue to raise women and girls' rights issues at all appropriate opportunities with the Iranian Government.

Republic of Ireland: Defence

Lord Rogan: To ask His Majesty's Government whetherthe Secretary of State for Defence or the Minister for Armed Forces attended the meeting between the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Micheál Martin, the Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Defence, in London on 13 December 2023; and what defence-related matters were discussed.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Neither the Secretary of State for Defence nor the Minister for Armed Forces attended the meeting in question. The Foreign Secretary and the Tánaiste discussed a wide range of foreign policy, defence and security matters, including international development, peacekeeping, the Israel-Gaza conflict, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the shared threat we face from malign state actors.

Hamas: Hostage Taking

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government whatsteps they have taken, together with allies, to persuade those holding Israeli citizens hostage in Gaza to release them without delay.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages. The Foreign Secretary met with hostage families on 18 March, reaffirming the UK's commitment to see the release of all hostages.We have been clear that the release of all hostages is one of the vital elements for a lasting peace. The Government continues to call for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow for the release of hostages.

Gaza: Israel

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the government of Israel is deprivingthe civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including by inhibiting of relief supplies.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: As an occupying power in Gaza, Israel has a responsibility to ensure aid is made available for civilians.We have set out the action that must be taken to allow more aid into Gaza, including: an immediate humanitarian pause and stop in fighting to get more aid in and the hostages out; increased capacity for aid distribution inside Gaza; increased access for aid through land routes and a fully open Ashdod Port; an expansion of the types of humanitarian assistance allowed into Gaza, such as shelter and items critical for infrastructure repair; and the provision of electricity, water and telecommunications.

Sudan: Humanitarian Situation

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in the area of Sudan held by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North; and what support has the UK provided to alleviate the severe food security situation in that area, in particular given that half a million internally displaced persons have sought refuge there.

Lord Benyon: We have not made a specific assessment of needs in this area, but we understand humanitarian needs to be very high, as they are across the country. UK humanitarian funding in Sudan aims to reach the most vulnerable wherever they are in the country, but it is not targeted to specific geographic areas. We are providing £42.6 million in humanitarian aid to support people in Sudan in 2023-2024. UK ODA for Sudan (including humanitarian) will also increase to £89 million for the year ahead. Access constraints and insecurity are limiting the ability of partners to deliver in many areas, including the areas held by SPLM-North. We continue to work with the UN, other donors and trusted partners to improve and increase the delivery of aid across Sudan.

The Gambia: Female Genital Mutilation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the Gambia and what discussions they have had with the government of the Gambia in relation to proposed legislation repealing the law banning FGM.

Lord Benyon: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a form of violence and a human rights violation. The UK Government, alongside our international partners, continues to have frank and open conversations with The Gambian Government, including the President and other Ministers, about the Bill to repeal the ban on FGM. On 19 March, the Foreign Secretary issued a tweet reinforcing the UK Government's position that FGM is harmful and should be illegal, and the Minister for Development and Africa spoke to the President about the repercussions of any vote in favour of FGM once again being permitted in The Gambia.

Burundi: Human Rights

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what capacity assistance they are providing to Burundi in support of efforts to ensure justice and accountability for past atrocities, including support for the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission and efforts to strengthen the rule of law.

Lord Benyon: The UK welcomes the Government of Burundi's stated commitment to strengthening the rule of law. Between 2019 and 2022, the UK's Peace Direct programme delivered £1 million of development assistance to Burundi targeted at building community resilience and strengthening social networks, to consolidate progress that Burundi has made towards reconciliation. We continue to call on the Government of Burundi to implement fully the recommendations made in last year's Universal Periodic Review. We will continue to monitor developments and advocate for improved transparency and accountability in Burundi through the British Embassy Office in Bujumbura and through our network of partners.

Arab States: Motor Sports

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government on which occasions in the past five years a UK ambassador to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia or Qatar has been a guest of the government, a government body or the F1 governing body, at F1 races.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: All FCDO Staff are expected to maintain the highest standards of propriety and regularity at all times in line with the Civil Service Code and Diplomatic Service Code. It is recognised across HMG that, for example, the exchange of gifts and hospitality have long been an important part of building relations, particularly overseas. The motorsport industry provides significant economic opportunities for the UK, generating over £10 billion in revenue each year, and UK Ambassadors to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have regularly attended F1 events as part of their official duties. Offers of gifts or hospitality to FCDO officials are recorded and regularly audited under our management assurance processes.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Social Media: Advertising

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask His Majesty's Government what stepsthey are taking to ensure that companies, such as Meta, appropriately regulate advertisements on their platforms to ensure compliance prior to publication; and whether they will consider imposing a ban on platforms that repeatedly fail to do so.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Online advertising in the UK is regulated independently by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which administers and enforces the advertising codes. While the codes apply to advertisers, the ASA works with major platforms including Meta through its Intermediary and Platform Principles pilot to help uphold the UK Non-broadcast Advertising Code.The Government’s Online Advertising Programme is creating a new regulatory framework to tackle illegal advertising and to increase protections for children across the online advertising supply chain. We will legislate when parliamentary time allows, and will publish a second consultation on the details of the framework. In the meantime, we have created the Online Advertising Taskforce to bring industry and government together to drive non-legislative action.

Football: Governing Bodies

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Football Governance Bill and independent football regulator on the governance structures and processes in football clubs and leagues.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Football Governance Bill, introduced to the House of Commons on 19 March, will establish an Independent Football Regulator. In consultation with interested parties and experts, the new regulator will publish a ‘Football Club Corporate Governance Code’. Clubs will be required to report on corporate governance, setting out how they apply the Code in their individual circumstances. This approach has been designed to be proportionate, and to increase transparency, scrutiny and accountability with regard to how football clubs are run.

BBC: Advertising

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of theBBC’s plans to introduce advertising on podcasts and on-demand content via third-party services; and whether the plans are compatible with the Royal Charter and Agreement.

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the BBC’s initiatives to engage with competitors on their plans to introduce advertising on podcasts and on-demand content via third-party services.

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to (1) theBBC Mid Term Review 2024, published on 22 January, and (2)the BBC’s plans to introduce advertising on podcasts and on-demand content via third-party services, what steps they are taking to ensure that Ofcom’s regulation of the BBC ensures the Corporation does not unduly harm the commercial sector.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The BBC has responsibilities set out in its Royal Charter to avoid unnecessary adverse impacts on the market. As the BBC’s independent regulator, it is for Ofcom to hold the BBC to account in meeting its obligations both to its audiences and to the market, as set out in the Royal Charter and Framework Agreement.The Government’s recent Mid-Term Review of the BBC stresses the need for the BBC meaningfully to engage with its competitors, and for high standards of transparency. Our recommendations seek to secure more effective engagement between competitors, the BBC and Ofcom on competition and market issues, enabling the BBC and Ofcom to make more informed decisions about changes which may affect the BBC’s competitors, and to ensure that the BBC’s competitors are better able to inform those decisions.The Government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the reforms as we approach the renewal of the BBC’s Royal Charter. We will examine the BBC’s role in the wider market, including how the regulatory framework may need to evolve to reflect shifts in technology and consumer behaviour, as part of our work in the next Charter Review. In the meantime, the BBC must rise to the challenge and make sure to strike the correct balance between its obligations.

Musicians: EU Countries

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the impact of any barriers faced by musicians touring in Europe following the UK's decision to leave the EU; and what steps they are taking to help musicians overcome these barriers.

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is any single individual body responsible for overseeing and addressing any problems encountered by musicians touring in Europe as a result of the UK's decision to leave the EU.

The Earl of Clancarty: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to reconvene the Touring Working Group; and, if not, why.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: His Majesty’s Government is committed to supporting touring artists, and the music industry more widely, to adapt to new arrangements following our departure from the EU, and we have worked with the sector and directly with Member States to provide clarity and support.The UK’s rules for touring creative professionals are more generous than those in many EU Member States. The vast majority of Member States — 23 out of 27 so far — have clarified arrangements to confirm that they allow visa- and work-permit-free routes for UK performers for some short-term touring. This includes the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, and also Spain, which we are very pleased changed its position following engagement from HM Government and the UK music industry. We continue to work closely with the sector and to engage with the few remaining Member States to improve arrangements or clarify guidance. It is, of course, up to them if they want to replicate the UK’s generous approach, but we encourage them to do so.We have worked across Government and in collaboration with the music and wider creative industries to support artists to work and tour with confidence in the European Union. Ongoing industry engagement continues at ministerial and official level. This includes several recent events with the sector focused on touring and export support, hosted in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade. These events help to provide tailored guidance to people and organisations in the sector, alongside an opportunity for the sector to discuss with Ministers and officials challenges and opportunities.

Advertising: Codes of Practice

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for strengthening current advertising codes, including the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (CAP) code 2.1.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Advertising Standards Authority is responsible for the enforcement of the advertising codes while its sister organisation, the Committee of Advertising Practice, codifies advertising standards. Both organisations operate independently of the Government and monitor developments in technology and advertising techniques to ensure that the codes are enforced and remain fit for purpose.

BBC Radio

Lord Kamall: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the BBC over its plans to launch four new spin-off radio stations and over whether the introduction of these stations risks beinganti-competitive.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Ministers at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regularly meet the BBC’s leadership to discuss a range of issues.The BBC has responsibilities, set out in its Royal Charter, to avoid unnecessary adverse impacts on the market. In delivering these responsibilities, the BBC is required to undertake a public interest test, carrying out an assessment of the impact of new services and justifying the resulting market impacts. The BBC is currently consulting on the impact of its radio station plans.As the BBC’s independent regulator, it is for Ofcom to ensure that any adverse impact on the market is necessary for the effective fulfilment of the BBC’s Mission and Public Purposes, and robustly to hold the BBC to account in meeting its obligations both to its audiences and to the market. Ofcom will therefore review the evidence provided by the BBC with regard to its radio station plans and determine the materiality and impact of the changes.The Government was clear in the Mid-Term Review about the importance of the BBC meaningfully engaging with its competitors when it is considering changes to its services. Given the number of new services proposed, it will be important that the BBC consults widely on the detail of the proposals – and for Ofcom to rigorously assess them before granting any approval.

Gambling: Advertising

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the joint report by the University of Bristol and Channel 5New Season, More Self-Regulation,More Marketing,published in September 2023, which found that92 per cent of social content marketing ads sent by major gambling brands in the opening weekend of the Premier League were not clearly identifiable as advertising.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: His Majesty’s Government recognises that, while millions of people gamble online without experiencing problems, for some it becomes an addiction with serious consequences. In our approach to gambling advertising, we have struck a balanced and evidence-led approach which tackles aggressive advertising that is most likely to appeal to children, while recognising that advertising is an entirely legitimate commercial practice for responsible firms.There are robust rules in place to ensure that gambling advertising is socially responsible and cannot be targeted at or strongly appeal to children. The Government welcomed the voluntary whistle-to-whistle ban on TV betting advertisements during live sports programmes, agreed by industry. According to figures from the Betting and Gaming Council, the ban reduced the number of views of gambling advertisements by children (aged 4–17) by 70 per cent over the duration of live sporting programmes. We also welcomed the Premier League’s announcement that it will ban gambling sponsors from the front of shirts, and are working with a wider group of sports governing bodies to introduce a code of conduct on responsible gambling sponsorship.

Department for Business and Trade

Arms Trade: Israel

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government whetherthey will undertake a review of existing and pending licences of arm sales to Israel.

Lord Offord of Garvel: The Government continues to monitor closely the situation in Israel and Gaza. The Government can and does respond quickly and flexibly to changing international circumstances.All export licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard. We are able to amend, suspend or revoke extant licences and refuse new licence applications as circumstances require.

Arms Trade

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that weapons manufactured in the UK and sold under export licences are not being used to commit or facilitate violations of international human law in Gaza and in contravention of the Arms Trade Treaty ratified by the UK on 2 April 2014.

Lord Offord of Garvel: All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.The Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and the Export Control Joint Unit will not issue an export licence to any destination where to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria.The Government continues to monitor closely the situation in Israel and Gaza. We can and do respond quickly and flexibly to changing international circumstances. All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard. We are able to amend, suspend or revoke extant licences and refuse new licence applications as circumstances require.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Leasehold: Reform

Lord Taylor of Goss Moor: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed removal of marriage value under proposed leasehold reforms on (1) property investors and (2) foreign investors.

Lord Taylor of Goss Moor: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of which region will see the largest transfer of marriage value from freeholder to leaseholder under proposed leasehold reforms.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: An Impact Assessment for the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill was published on 11 December 2023 and is available on the Parliament website (attached) at: Leasehold and Freehold ReformBill publications - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament. This includes an estimate of the impact of removing marriage value on different groups and regions. Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill  (pdf, 99.7KB)

Radicalism

Baroness Warsi: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish all aspects of the legal advice submitted to them on the formulation of a new definition of extremism, which was published on 14 March.

Baroness Swinburne: In line with the practice of successive administrations, legal advice is not normally disclosed.

Housing: Construction

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports of stabilisation and growth in the housing market, what steps they are taking to ensure that this translates into an increased housing supply, particularly in areas facing housing shortages.

Baroness Swinburne: Housebuilding is a priority for this Government, and we are on track to meet our manifesto commitment to deliver one million homes over this Parliament. In December, the revised National Planning Policy Framework was published, making clear that a core purpose of the planning system is planning for the homes and other development that our communities need. With both the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act and the new Framework now in place, alongside the additional resources for planning departments the Government has recently announced, our planning reforms will accelerate the delivery of new homes.We are spending billions to support housebuilding, including through our £1 billion Brownfield Infrastructure and Land Fund and our £1.5 billion Levelling Up Homebuilding Fund (LUHBF). We have scaled up the delivery of affordable housing by investing £11.5 billion through the Affordable Homes Programme, which will provide thousands of new homes for rent and sale across the country.In February, we announced that we are consulting on a range of new measures to boost housebuilding while protecting the Green Belt, through strengthening planning support for brownfield housing development. Legislation was also laid to extend current permitted development rights to support the conversion of commercial buildings of any size into new homes, and we announced an expansion of the ENABLE Build scheme to increase availability of SME finance to the sector.

Housing Infrastructure Fund

Lord Young of Cookham: To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the Housing Infrastructure Fund has been spent to date on (1) road infrastructure, (2) active travel infrastructure, including pavements and cycle paths, and (3) other types of infrastructure.

Baroness Swinburne: The department does not break down Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) spending on types of infrastructure. £4 billion has been allocated for local authorities in England to support infrastructure projects, which will seek to unlock 324,000 homes. The Fund enables local authorities to deliver the infrastructure their communities need – including new roads, leisure and healthcare services, digital and power networks, and schools, to encourage more housebuilding without overstretching facilities.HIF schemes are often complex and deliver multiple items of infrastructure. Disaggregating these to determine exactly which infrastructure categories individual items were part of would require detailed analysis and therefore could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Department for Education

Boarding Schools: Special Educational Needs

Lord Warner: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Barran on 11 March (HL2772, HL2773, HL2811),who are the owners ofeach of the 55 independent residential special schools mentioned in that answer; and which of those schools are identified as needing improvementby Ofsted.

Lord Warner: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 11 March (HL2772, HL2773, HL2811),how many of the 26 maintainedresidential special schools, the 32 non-maintained residential special schools, and the 35 academy and free residential specialschools mentioned in the answer require improvement according to Ofsted; and what are the names of those schools.

Lord Warner: To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 11 March (HL2772, HL2773, HL2811),how many of the 148 residentialschools mentioned in the answer are approved for (1) under 20 residential placements, (2) 20 to 40 such placements, and (3) over 40 such placements; and whether thereare any places approved for a single child only.

Lord Warner: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 11 March (HL2772, HL2773, HL2811),whether the number of residentialspecial schools in England has increased or decreased since (1) 2010, and (2) 2015; and what arrangements the Department for Education has in placeto assess whether there is a shortage of such schools.

Lord Warner: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 11 March (HL2772, HL2773, HL2811),what arrangements they have in place to ensure that the 148 residential special schools mentioned in that answer have ready access topsychiatric and clinical psychology services to meet the clinical needs of their residents, especially those with complex autism.

Lord Warner: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 11 March (HL2772, HL2773, HL2811),what assessment they have made of the capacity of local education authorities to provide education to a child with an education, health and care plan who has been off-rolled froma residential special school and unable to find an alternative placement in another such school.

Baroness Barran: Of the 55 independent residential special schools, five are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. One further school met the standards since the previous answer was provided. These schools are The Forum School, Wilds Lodge School, Pioneer TEC, The Fitzroy Academy and The Grange Therapeutic School. Nine schools offer under 20 residential placements, eight schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 38 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only. When the department registers an independent school, it establishes who the proprietor will be, and runs suitability checks on the proprietor. The proprietor is ultimately responsible for the operation of the school. The proprietor is included on the register of independent schools. The department does not record the ultimate beneficial owner of the school. The registered proprietor of each of the 55 independent residential special schools is shown in the attachment provided titled ‘Table of Independent Residential Special Schools’. Of the 26 residential maintained special schools, six are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. These schools are Holly House Special School, Barndale House School, Greenbank School, Kings Mill School, Lindsworth School and Lexden Springs School. One school offers under 20 residential placements, three schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 23 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only. Of the 33 residential non-maintained special schools (NMSS), three are identified as requiring improvement by Ofsted. This number has increased by one since the previous answer provided as the department has identified an additional NMSS that is listed on the register of schools as a further educational college rather than a school. These schools are St Vincent’s School, New College Worcester, and Breckenbrough School. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, one school offers 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only. Of the 34 residential special academy and free schools, four require improvement according to Ofsted. One school no longer offers residential placements since the previous answer provided. These schools are Brompton Hall School, Langham Oaks, Pencalenick School and Charlton Park Academy. No schools offer under 20 residential placements, two schools offer 20 to 40 residential placements, and 32 schools offer residential placements for over 40. None are approved for a single child only. Historical data does not allow a comparison to be made on Residential Special Schools compared to 2010 and 2015. Data for recorded school types is available in the department’s data releases, which is included in the attached documents titled ‘Index of Tables’ and ‘Table of School Characteristics’. Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. Residential provision may be the right way to meet the needs of some children and young people, but it places them at greater risk by removing them from their families and local support networks. While there will always be a small group of children who require more intensive round-the-clock care alongside their education or healthcare in a residential setting, this should be less necessary as the department better meets children’s needs in mainstream schools and non-residential special schools and provide more early and intensive support for families. Individual schools are responsible for ensuring they can meet the needs of the children and young people they educate. All residential special schools are required to follow and are inspected against the residential special schools’ national minimum standards (NMS). These standards can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/647f53155f7bb700127fa5c9/Residential_special_schools_national_minimum_standards.pdf. Amongst other things, the NMS set out the importance of suitably qualified and trained staff, along with a requirement for care staff to have at least a relevant Level 3 qualification. Part D, ‘Health and Wellbeing’, provides comprehensive standards to ensure staff are meeting pupils’ needs, including ensuring pupils have access to appropriate support services. Children and young people in residential special schools away from home are entitled to access local health services in the same way as all children and young people are. Some providers also offer and commission their own clinical expertise and support for children in their residential special schools. Additionally, the National Autism Trainer Programme, funded by NHS England and led by Anna Freud provides a co-produced autism Train the Trainers approach that has been offered free of charge for staff working in residential special schools and colleges to better support them to understand the needs and experiences of autistic children and young people. Children and young people may only be placed in a special school if they have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If the placement is no longer suitable for the child or young person, the local authority responsible for the EHC plan will need to review it and consider amending it, following the statutory processes set out in the Children and Families Act 2014. In the meantime, local authorities have a duty to arrange suitable education for any pupil of compulsory school age who, because of illness, exclusion, or other reasons, would not get a suitable education without such provision. This education must be full time, unless a pupil’s medical needs mean that full-time education would not be in their best interests.It is up to local authorities to determine the most appropriate alternative provision for a child, but they should take into account the views of the pupil, their parents and other professionals. The department has published statutory guidance on alternative provision, which local authorities must have regard to. The guidance is available on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.Table of Independent Residential Special Schools (xlsx, 27.3KB)Index of Tables  (xlsx, 152.2KB)Table of School Characteristics (xlsx, 26.4KB)

Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Line: Euston Station

Lord Berkeley: To ask His Majesty's Government when the Euston ministerial task force wascreated; what are its terms of reference; who are its members; on what dates has it met; and whether it intends to publish minutes of its meetings or other relevant papers.

Lord Davies of Gower: The establishment of the Euston Quarter Ministerial Task Force was announced at Spring Budget on 6 March 2024. It will oversee the next stages of delivery at Euston, set strategic direction and facilitate decision making. Membership of the Task Force will include Ministers from the Department for Transport, HM Treasury and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Officials from these Government Departments and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority will also attend. Further details will be confirmed in due course.

Railways: Strikes

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking toimplement contingency plans to manage the impact of the upcoming train strikes in April across multiple rail companies.

Lord Davies of Gower: On 20 March, ASLEF announced a further rolling programme of one-day strikes and action short of strike on the National Rail network. The rail industry is working on contingency planning and will do all it can to minimise the impacts for passengers. During periods of strike action, rail operators deploy measures such as implementing amended timetables to ensure services can be delivered reliably and safely. To minimise impacts and keep passengers informed during periods of strike action, the rail industry uses widespread passenger messaging to publicise disruption and the latest travel information in stations, through websites, and on social media channels. The government has also put in place legislation to enable train operators to plan for a 40% minimum level of service during strikes. It is a decision for individual employers whether to use this new tool to mitigate the impact of strikes, but we expect operators to be ready and able to do so, and to make that decision in the best interests of passengers. The Rail Delivery Group has presented a fair and reasonable offer to ASLEF which it rejected without allowing its members to vote on their future. We continue to urge ASLEF to put the offer to their members in the train companies to give them a say on their future.

Department for Transport: Billing

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government whatis the average time a business waits for the payment of an invoice from the Department for Transport.

Lord Davies of Gower: For the 23-24 Financial Year thus far, the average time a business waits for the payment of a valid invoice from the Department for Transport is 3.41 working days.

Motorcycles: Training

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport) on 18 March (HC17308),what assessment they have made of the Motorcycle Industry Association’s proposals to reform compulsory basic training.

Lord Davies of Gower: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is committed to reviewing all aspects of motorcycle training and testing, and is in the process of assessing the Motorcycle Industry Association’s proposals to reform compulsory basic training (CBT).

Large Goods Vehicles: Operating Costs

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the issue of increased operating costs for hauliers, including those related to (1) fluctuating fuel prices, and (2) administrative requirements relating to the Windsor Framework.

Lord Davies of Gower: The Government has continued its support for haulage companies by freezing HGV Vehicle Excise Duty and the HGV Levy for 2024-25, as announced at Autumn Statement 2023. This has resulted in a tax saving for one of the most popular HGVs (a 38-44 tonne articulated lorry with 3 axles, EURO VI) of £47 per annum. These measures form a package of support for hauliers, alongside the freezing of Fuel Duty as announced at Spring Budget 2024. More broadly, at Autumn Statement 2023, the Chancellor announced that full expensing would be made permanent, meaning companies can claim 100% capital allowances on qualifying main rate plant and machinery investments, so that for every pound invested its taxes is cut by up to 25p. Following representations from industry – including the haulage sector – at Spring Budget 2024, the Chancellor confirmed that draft legislation on extending full expensing to assets for leasing will soon be published for a period of technical consultation. The extension will remain under consideration for a future fiscal event.Additionally, the Windsor Framework will ensure the smooth flow of goods within the UK internal market. Under the new UK internal market system, which will come into force later this year, there will be no checks save those conducted by UK authorities as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach to tackle criminality, abuse of the scheme, smuggling and disease. The requirements in the old Protocol for both international customs paperwork and supplementary declarations will also be scrapped.The Department for Transport does not hold a formal assessment of the specific impacts of fuel prices on businesses, nor on haulage and transport industries. However, the department is in regular contact with haulage and other transport sectors where discussions include the impact of fuel prices among other economic factors. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes weekly fuel prices and the Office for National Statistics conducts a regular survey of business sectors on concerns such as energy prices.

Cabinet Office

Stormont Brake

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask His Majesty's Government which existing provisions of EU law listed in Annex 2 of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland can be subjected to the Stormont Brake procedure.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The scope of EU legislation that can be subject to the Stormont Brake is set out in the Windsor Framework (Democratic Scrutiny) Regulations 2024. The Government welcomes the restoration of Northern Ireland’s devolved institutions so that this important democratic safeguard can now be exercised.

Legislative Drafting

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord True on 23 May 2022 (HL67), on what date the Office of Parliamentary Counsel completed updating its drafting guidance on the use of gendered language, and whether they will place a copy in the Library of the House.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel’s guidance on legislative drafting, which includes the use of sex-specific references in legislation, was deposited in the Library on Wednesday 27 March and is available on GOV.UK.

Department for Work and Pensions

Brazil: Reciprocal Arrangements

Lord German: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the letter they received from the government of Brazil in 2011 that sought a reciprocal social security agreement with the UK, and a copy of their response to that letter.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Department for Work and Pensions received diplomatic correspondence from the Brazilian government in 2011 and DWP officials met with officials at the Brazilian Embassy in London to discuss the request. There was no further action. We do not publish another country’s diplomatic correspondence or the content of negotiations without their consent.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fisheries: Sustainable Development

Lord Hay of Ballyore: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the UK fishing industry to ensure sustainable management of UK fishing waters and the livelihoods of British fishermen.

Lord Douglas-Miller: We are ensuring the sustainable management of UK fishing waters and livelihoods of British fishers by developing Fisheries Management Plans and through the £100m UK Seafood Fund, which has provided £3.9m in grant funding to projects in Northern Ireland. This includes a £2.8m project at Portavogie Harbour that will replace and enhance the existing boat cradle and winch.

Gun Sports: Lead

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the SHOT-SWITCH research project, published in Conservation Evidence, about the voluntary transition from hunting with lead to non-lead ammunition in Great Britain; and what plans they have to ban the use of lead shot in hunting in England.

Lord Douglas-Miller: The use of lead shot in England and Wales is already prohibited in specific circumstances by existing legislation – including on all foreshores, and in or over specified sites of special scientific interest, predominantly wetlands. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently preparing recommendations on further action to restrict the use of lead in ammunition. This work has included looking at information submitted to them with regard to possible options to control the use of lead ammunition. The previous SHOT-SWITCH study has been considered and is referenced in the background document of evidence (attached to this answer) which was put out with the public consultation last year. HSE expects to issue its final restriction opinions later this year. The decision to apply any UK REACH restrictions as a further regulatory measure, or not to do so, will subsequently be made by the Defra Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers.HL3314  Attachment (pdf, 4743.3KB)

Ministry of Justice

Feltham Young Offender Institution

Baroness Redfern: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Annual Report of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP/YOI Feltham, published on 12 March; and in particular, the finding that violence in classrooms and workshops has made young prisoners reluctant to attend education and rehabilitation sessions.

Lord Bellamy: We are grateful to the Independent Monitoring Board for its report, and for the vital work its members undertake to monitor the welfare of prisoners, to ensure that they are properly cared for. The report comments on the impact of staffing challenges affecting the regime at both HM/YOI Feltham A (young people under 18) and HMP/YOI Feltham B (adults and young adults over 18), as well as on the suitability of the education programmes available.Since the end of the period covered by the Independent Monitoring Board’s report (1 September 2022- 31 August 2023), the staffing position at Feltham A has improved, and it now has the resources in place to provide a safe and productive regime for young people, with increased time-out-of-room.The Youth Custody Service (YCS) has commissioned a resource review across all four public sector young offender institutions, to explore opportunities to make better use of the staff available in the current operating environment. This includes looking at the balance between management and frontline supervisory staff. The first review was at Feltham A in 2023, and a delivery plan following this review will be implemented shortly. The YCS will monitor the impact of this on service delivery. Support is also being provided at Feltham A to aid staff retention; sickness absence monitoring, with appropriate support, is a feature of regular management oversight.The report of an Independent Review of Progress at Feltham B, conducted by HM Inspectorate of Prisons in January 2024, found that the prison had made reasonable progress in relation to encouraging positive behaviour. In addition, following a resource and risk assessment review, improved arrangements for purposeful activity are being put in place, to support the aim of reducing re-offending and increasing readiness for work, to help prisoners to gain employment upon release.

Court of Protection

Lord Blunkett: To ask His Majesty's Government what was the reason for the decision to increase the length of the COP3 assessment of capacity form from 12 to 21 pages.

Lord Bellamy: Court of Protection forms are a matter for the judiciary. The Court of Protection Rules Committee in 2022 convened an expert Working Group to review the COP3 assessment of capacity form, supported by my officials. That group recommended substantial revisions to both the format and content.Revisions were made to reflect the outcome of a Supreme Court case (Local Authority v JB), and more broadly to improve the form’s evidential value. While longer than its predecessor, the revised form aims to provide for a more rigorous assessment of a person’s capacity and greater scrutiny of each specific decision to be made on their behalf. The Rules Committee approved those revisions, and the revised form was published in July 2023.

Civil Proceedings: Third Party Financing

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts: To ask His Majesty's Government, following the announcement on 4 March of the establishment of an inquiry into third party litigation funding, when they expect to announce the terms of reference, the members of the inquiry panel and the timing of the review.

Lord Bellamy: The Lord Chancellor has invited the Civil Justice Council, the body responsible for overseeing and co-ordinating the modernisation of the civil justice system, to undertake a review of third-party litigation funding in England and Wales. The CJC has agreed to undertake the review and will be announcing terms of reference and other information shortly.

Home Office

Passports: Children

Lord Allan of Hallam: To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) fathers, and (2) mothers, were required to provide additional consent from the other parent when applying for passports for their childrenin 2023, and was the total number of applicants in each group.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: There are circumstances when additional consent is needed for a passport application. This includes where there is a change of name for a child, or where one parent is attempting to declare a child’s valid passport as lost that the other parent had applied for. Further information can be found at GOV.UK: Authorisation and consent: needed to issue a passport - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).Data relating to the number of fathers and mothers that were required to provide additional consent from the other parent for passport applications in 2023 is not held in a reportable format.

Visas: British National (Overseas)

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of redefining criminality rules for British National (Overseas) visa applications.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: Part 9 of the Immigration Rules, in relation to criminality and other adverse behaviour, apply to applications to the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route. All applications are carefully assessed against the latest country information. Guidance for caseworkers provides flexibility to ensure that overseas convictions and offences not recognised in the UK do not result in the automatic refusal of an application.Following representations from stakeholders, we are considering whether the current approach to criminality remains appropriate given the situation in Hong Kong.

Asylum: Children

Lord Scriven: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Sharpe of Epsom on 15 March (HL2855), how long each of the 118 unaccompanied children seeking asylum have been missing; and what are the individual ages of the 18 children now under the age of 18 who are still missing.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: This data has not previously been published and quality assured to that standard. We are unable to provide it in response to this question.

Organised Crime: Rural Areas

Lord Swire: To ask His Majesty's Government what additional resources they have provided to police forces to combat the increase in organised crime in rural areas.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The Home Office ensures that the police have the resources they need. Ultimately, it is for Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), and Mayors with PCC functions, to make operational decisions based on their local knowledge and experience. This includes how to allocate resources to reduce levels of organised crime.Chief Constables, PCCs and Mayors with PCC functions have provided significant resource to the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) network by allocating 725 extra officers to ROCUs between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2023. Those officers are tackling the range of SOC threats, helping to reduce crime and keep communities safe.The Government also recognises that there can be particular challenges in responding to rural crime and welcomed the rural and wildlife crime strategy published by the National Police Chiefs’ Council in September 2022.Additionally, the Home Office provided £200,000 for the National Rural Crime Unit to tackle rural crime including the theft of farming or construction machinery, livestock theft, rural fly tipping, rural fuel theft and equine crime.The Government is committed to tackling the threat from Serious and Organised Crime (SOC). It has recently published a new SOC strategy that commits to reducing SOC in the UK by disrupting and dismantling organised crime groups and networks operating in and against the UK.

Crime: Rural Areas

Lord Swire: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the College of Policing about updating theirTHRIVE guidance with regard to reporting and combating rural crime.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: Guidelines on the use of THRIVE are published by the College of Policing here: https://www.college.police.uk/guidance/vulnerability-related-risks/introduction-vulnerability-related-risk.The Home Office has not had conversations recently with College of Policing about updating their THRIVE guidance with regard to reporting and combating rural crime.We are committed to driving down rural crime and the Home Office continues to work closely with the National Rural Crime Unit to help ensure an effective police response to rural crime.Introduction to vulnerability related risk (pdf, 123.6KB)

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Pornography: Internet

Baroness Benjamin: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byViscount Camrose on 11 March (HL2719), whether, as a result of engagement between Aylo and XHamster, the Information Commissioner's Office was satisfied that these two websites are operating in full accordance with data protection law, including the Age Appropriate Design Code, and if not, what further regulatory action they are taking to achieve compliance.

Viscount Camrose: The ICO provided advice and guidance to Aylo and XHamster on compliance with data protection legislation and on their Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs). The ICO would consider further interactions with these organisations if subsequent compliance concerns arise. Should the ICO receive a complaint that these or any other pornography website organisations have breached their obligations, the ICO would consider the complaint and take action where necessary.